Bearing structure



BEARING STRUCTURE Original Filled Au 7, 1958 1 Y I I; INVENTOR;GEORGEMH7DPY@WALDL How) a I I I v r BY BMmmAf/owy igfiwaaz United StatesPatent 3,273,948 BEARING STRUCTURE George W. Hoddy, Gerald L. Hoddy, andRaymond A. iioddy, Owosso, Mich., assignors to Universal ElectricCompany, Owosso, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 24,1962, Ser. No. 197,398, now Patent No. 3,223,464, dated Dec. 14, 1965,which is a divislon of application Ser. No. 753,695, Aug. 7, 1958, nowPatent No. 3,063,761, dated Nov. 13, 1962. Divided and this applicationFeb. 4, 1965, Ser. No.

4 Claims. 01. 308-72) This application is a divisional application ofour copending application Serial No. 197,398, filed May 24. 1962, nowPatent No. 3,223,464, issued Dec. 14, 1965 which in turn is a divisionof application Serial No. 753,- 695, filed August 7, i958, now PatentNo. 3,063,76l, issued Nov. 13, i962.

This invention relates to improved bearing structures and pertains morespecifically to a self-aligning bearing for a rotatably and power drivenshaft.

Self-aligning bearings for shafts are not new but the present bearinghas decided and wide advantages over such bearings as heretofore made,known and used. lleretofore it has been common practice to provideselfaligning bearings with a spherical shaped nose which is rotatablysupported in a support or seat, but with such bearings it was necessaryto provide pressure longitudihall) of the bearing and the shaft which isrotatably. therein to retain the bearing in its seat. The pressure hasbeen ordinarily provided through the medium of resilicnt means. Suchbearings have been found to be unsatisfactory as well as costly to makeand assemble. When subjected to heavy or vibrating loads, such bearingspull otrt of or move in their seats and thereby cause noisy operation ordamage. Additionally when only a small amount of power is transmitted tothe shaft these bearings will not freely align due to the pressureutilized to hold the bearings on their seats and the shaft binds and isprevented from rotating.

An advantage of the present bearing is that it requires no force toretain it in position in its seat and this attribute is due to the factthat its support or seat is directly vertically beneath theself-aligning spherical or curved portion of the bearing, that is tosay, perpendicular to the shaft. As a result of this, there is provideda freely self-aligning bearing and a support which do not requirepressure between them tomaintain them in proper operating position and ahearing which cannot be removed from its support or seat by load on theshaft.

' The bearing has the advantage of embodying a resilient section orsections for shock absorption and these are expansible to maintain theseif-aligningportion of the bearing in contact with its support or seat.This expansible feature of the bearing eliminates clearance between thebearing and its support or seat and additionally compensates for anydimensional variation which might exist between the bearing and itssupport or seat in that the bearing will be inherently, automatically ormanually adjustable to provide variable outside spherical diameters.

While the present improved bearing inherently aligns itself priorbearings inherently misalign themselves with the shaft. Prior bearingsare supported at one end in the bearing support and the center ofgravity of the shaft load on the bearing is located at the longitudinalcenter of the bearing. This arrangement produces a leverage in thebearing which causes the bearing to'swivel in its seat and therebytighten the shaft which causes undesirable results.

The bearing has many other desirable attributes such as the following.it is rugged; it is usable with either 3,273,948 Patented Sept. 20, 1966reciprocating, rotating, oscillating or stationary shafts, and in allinstances it is positively free to align itself and will therefore notbind the shaft; it will not break down oil film because the shaft willnot cock and, as a conse quence, prevent uneven wear of the shaft or thebearing; it provides the minimum of rotating friction to the shaft, andmost importantly provides for more quiet operation than do bearings asheretofore known and used.

In the drawings: V

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation and partly in vertical sectionillustrating a bearing embodying the invention.

HO. 2 is an end view of the bearing of HO. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a still further form of hearing scat.

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation partly in vertical sectionillustrating a still further form of bearing seat.

FIG. 5 is an end view of FIG. 4.

FlG. 6 is an end view of a modified form of bearing.

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of the bearing of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation partly in vertical sectionillustrating a still further modified form of bearing.

Basically, the bearing embodying the invention comprises an elementhaving a spherical outer surface which engages a cylindrical support,the diameter of the spherical surface being substantially equal to thediameter of the cylindrical supporting surface. In accordance with theinvention, the bearing embodies a resiliency externally of the sphericalsurface which permits the bearing to accommodate to dimensionalvariations. This is achieved by providing inherent resiliency in thesupport or interposing resilient means between a fixed support and thespherical contacting surface, said resilient means defining thecylindrical supporting surface.

The bearing illustrated in FIGS. l and 2 is a construction utilizing theresilient principle, hereinbefore described, of engagement between theself-aligning portion of the bearing and the bearing seat. The motorcase end D is provided with a cylindrical bearing support or seat 31.The bearing embodies a ring or sleeve 32 having a bore 33 for thereception of the shaft. intermediate its length the sleeve is providedwith a circular shaped enlargement 34 constituting the self-aligningportion of the bearing and the outer face or perimeter of this isspherical as at 35. Intermediate the surface 35 and the hearing seat orsupport a thin corrugated spring steel strip 36 is interposed. The outerface of this strip engages the bearing seat while the inner face of thestrip engages the spherical surface 35.

The structure of FIG. 3 is a two-part resilient support and comprises apair of strap-like elements 6 and H the outer ends of which areconnected by bolts 62 and 63 each of which is provided with a wing nut64 and 65 for tightening down upon its respective coil spring 66 or 67which encircle the extending ends of the bolts. The hearing, designatedas an entirety by K, can be of any of several constructions describedand is supported between the straps or saddles. Intermediate theirlengths ea'ch strap is provided with a curved or spherical shapedportion as at 68 and 69 for the reception of the bearing.

in the bearing support structure illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, Ldesignates the support generally and this might well, but notnecessarily, be one end of a motor casing. A plurality of spring fingers70 to 81 inclusive extend axially outwardly from the support L toprovide a circular tubular seat designated M. A bearing P is supportedin the seat and this hearing can be of any of the types hereinbeforedescribed. Specifically, bearing P comprises a ring or sleeve having abore for the reception of a shaft. Intermediate its length the sleeve isprovided with a circular-shaped enlargement constituting theself-aligning portion of the bearing in the outer face or perimeter ofthis enlargement is spherical.

A further form of bearing is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. This bearingcan be used with any of the supports illustrated in respect to thebearing heretofore described and comprises a sleeve 125 which rotatablysupports the shaft 126. Intermediate its length the bearing is providedwith a circular enlargement 127 the outer face of which is spherical. Astrip of spring steel designatcd as an entirety by X is rcepeated aroundthe face of the circular enlargement 127. This strip is of a corrugatednature comprising a plurality of transversely extending protrusions 128.These protrusions in end view, as they appear in FIG. 6, have aspherical or curved surface and additionally each of the protrusions iscurved throughout its length, that is to say curved in a directiontransversely of the strip just as the perimeter of the enlargcment 127is curved transversely.

The protrusions have sufficient resiliency so that the bearing with thestrip thereon will automatically adjust itself to any slight variationsin size of the cylindrical support, as for instance a support 31 inFIG. 1. It will be understood that there could be some variations in thesize of the seat or support resulting from error in the manufacturethereof. Accordingly, this bearing will resiliently adjust oraccommodate itself to its seat or support and additionally the bearingis self-centering as the bearing will rock on the spherical surfaces ofthe protrusions which are in engagement with the seat or support. Thisself-centering operation would be similar to that described in respectto the bearing appearing in FIG. 1.

H6. 8 is a further modified form of bearing shown in combination with abearing support or'scat Y. Here the bearing comprises a sleeve 129having intermediate its length a circular enlargement 130 the perimeterof which is spherical as at 131. A fiat metallic strip or band 132encircles the perimeter of the circular enlargement 130. A resilientstrip or band 133, which is also fiat, encircles the band or strip 132.This construction provides the resiliency so that the bearing willaccommodate itself to the interior diameter of the seat or support Y.The self-aligning attribute of the bearing is obtained through thespherical face 131 of the enlargement 130 which face readily rocks onthe under face of the strip 132 as will be readily apparent andunderstood from the construction illustrated in FIG. 8.

All of the bearings, if desired, may be composed of some suitable finelypulverized metal having the desired porosity so that the metal mayreadily absorb lubricant to provide a self-lubricating bearing. Theinventive concept is not limited to the use of any particular materialin the bearings. The bearings, may be made in whole or in part ofbronze, babbitt or some other metal. The bearings may be made in part ofa metal and in part of some other material such as nylon or plastic. Anymaterial suitable to the particuar use to which the bearing is to be putcan be used and the material used will be dictated by the circumstancesand the use to which the bearing is to be put.

We claim:

1. A self-aligning bearing structure for a shaft comprising a bearingmember having a ring and a bore for the reception ofa shaft,

a motor housing or the like,

said bearing member having an outer perimter which is transverselycurved to define a substantially spherical contacting surface portion,

said housing having a portion surrounding said spherical contactingsurface portion,

radially yieldable means interposed between said housing portion andsaid spherical contacting surface portion,

said radially yicidable means circumscribing a generally cylindricalsupporting surface,

said spherical contacting surface portion having its center alignedsubstantially on the axis of the cylindrical supporting surface andhaving a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of saidcylindrical supporting surface,

said radially yieldable means having limited radial resiliencysufficient to accommodate dimensional variations but insufficient topermit any substantial movement of the center of the bearing member sothat the center of the bearing member is maintained in position,

said cylindrical supporting surface having a longitudi-.,.,.-

nal extent suificient to permit relatively unrestrained axial movementof said bearing member relative to said supporting surface.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said radially yieldablemeans compriscsa corrugated spring metal having circumferentially spacedprotrusions thereon extending radially outwardly and inwardly, theradially innermost portions of the surfaces of said protrusions whichextend radially inwardly circumscribing said generaily cylindricalsupporting surface.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said radially yieldablemeans comprises a ring of resilient material interposed and compressedbetween said housing portion and said spherical contacting surfaceportion, and a ring of relatively incompressible material interposedbetween said ring of resilient material and said spherical contactingsurface portion, said last mentioned ring having a cylindrical surfacedefining said cylindrical supporting surface.

4. A self-aligning prising a bearing member having a ring and a bore forthe reception of a shaft,

a motor housing or the like,

said bearing member having an outer perimeter which is transverselycurved to define a substantially spherical contacting surface portion,

said housing having a first part fixed thereto and a second partyieldingly mounted thereon,

said parts circumscribing a generally cylindrical supporting surface,said spherical contacting surface portion having its center alignedsubstantially on the axis of the cylindrical supporting surface andhaving a diameter sub stantially equal to the diameter of saidcylindrical supporting surface, said radially yieldable means havinglimited radial rcsiliency sufiicient to accommodate dimensionalvariations but insuflicient to permit any substantial movement of thecenter of the bearing member so that the center of the bearing member ismaintained in position,

said cylindrical supporting surface having a longitudinal extentsuiiicient to permit relatively unrestrained axial movement of saidbearing member relative to said supporting surface.

bearing structurefor a shaft com- Referenees Cited by the ExaminerUNITED STATES PATENTS 742,178 10/1903 Fleming 308-47 DAVID J.WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. F NK SUSK xaminer.

1. A SELF-ALIGNING BEARING STRUCTURE FOR A SHAFT COMPRISING A BEARINGMEMBER HAVING A RING AND A BORE FOR THE RECEPTION OF A SHAFT, A MOTORHOUSING OR THE LIKE, SAID BEARING MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER PERIMETER WHICHIS TRANSVERSELY CURVED TO DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICAL CONTACTINGSURFACE PORTION, SAID HOUSING HAVING A PORTION SURROUNDING SAIDSPHERICAL CONTACTING SURFACE PORTION, RADIALLY YIELDABLE MEANSINTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID HOUSING PORTION AND SAID SPHERICAL CONTACTINGSURFACE PORTION, SAID RADIALLY YIELDABLE MEANS CIRCUMSCRIBING AGENERALLY CYLINDRICAL SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID SPHERICAL CONTACTINGSURFACE PORTION HAVING ITS CENTER ALIGNED SUBSTANTIALLY ON THE AXIS OFTHE CYLINDRICAL SUPPORTING SURFACE AND HAVING A DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLYEQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID CYLINDRICAL SUPPORT SURFACE, SAID RADIALLYYIELDABLE MEANS HAVING LIMITED RADIAL RESILIENCY SUFFICIENT TOACCOMMODATE DIMENSIONAL VARIATIONS BUT INSUFFICIENT TO PERMIT ANYSUBSTANTIAL MOVEMENT OF THE CENTER OF THE BEARING MEMBER SO THAT THECENTER OF THE BEARING MEMBER IS MAINTAINED IN POSITION, SAID CYLINDRICALSUPPORTING SURFACE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL EXTENT SUFFICIENT TO PERMITRELATIVELY UNRESTRAINED AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BEARING MEMBER RELATIVETO SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE.